By Charles Pitts
Vizsla Copper Corp. has commenced an 8,000-meter drilling program at its Woodjam project in British Columbia to test deeper porphyry-related mineralization.
The campaign will target the Three Firs Breccia, Great Plains and the potential extension of the Deerhorn zone.
Management stated the company aims to expand gold-rich zones and test high-priority targets identified in previous geophysical surveys.
The Woodjam project is located in the prolific Quesnel Terrane approximately 50 kilometers east of Williams Lake.
The 90,163-hectare property sits within a region known for hosting significant alkaline and calc-alkaline porphyry copper-gold deposits.
Current copper price strength is supportive of aggressive exploration across the company portfolio according to management statements.
Vizsla recently completed an 11,200-meter phase-1 program at its Poplar project with assays currently pending.
Targeted Exploration and Deep Porphyry Potential
The 2026 summer program at Woodjam follows successful 2023 efforts that extended known mineralization at the Deerhorn and Takom deposits.
The current 8,000-meter initiative is expected to consist of approximately 16 drill holes.
Geologists are focusing on the Three Firs Breccia where previous exploration suggested the presence of high-grade copper-gold mineralization at depth.
The Great Plains target represents a compelling geophysical anomaly that remains largely untested by deep core drilling.
Expanding the Deerhorn zone is a primary objective as the system remains open in several directions.
Deerhorn is characterized by significant gold credits which enhance the overall value proposition of the porphyry system.
The Quesnel Terrane is the same geological belt that hosts the Mount Polley and Copper Mountain mines.
Strategic Positioning in the Copper Market
The move comes as the copper deficit continues to drive long-term interest in North American exploration assets.
Investors tracking copper stocks have noted a trend toward projects with existing infrastructure and favorable jurisdictions.
British Columbia remains a top-tier destination for mineral exploration due to its established mining code and geological potential.
Vizsla Copper holds a 100% interest in the Woodjam project which was previously a joint venture with Gold Fields.
The project already hosts historical resources totaling roughly 1.7 billion pounds of copper and nearly 1 million ounces of gold.
The Southeast, Deerhorn and Takom deposits form the core of the current resource base.
The table below outlines the historical mineral resource estimates for the primary Woodjam deposits.
| Deposit | Tonnage (Mt) | Cu Grade (%) | Au Grade (g/t) | Contained Cu (Mlb) | Contained Au (koz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | 227.5 | 0.31 | – | 1,541 | – |
| Deerhorn | 32.8 | 0.22 | 0.49 | 158 | 516 |
| Takom | 8.3 | 0.28 | 0.26 | 51 | 69 |
| Total | 268.6 | – | – | 1,750 | 585 |
Note: Historical estimates are based on 2013 technical reports and require verification by a qualified person.
Regional Infrastructure and Logistics
The project benefits from year-round road access and proximity to high-voltage power lines.
Operations are supported by the nearby mining hub of Williams Lake which provides specialized labor and equipment.
The local topography consists of rolling hills and dense forest which requires careful site preparation for drill pads.
The company is utilizing specialized contractors experienced in the rugged terrain of the Cariboo region.
Exploration activities are being conducted in accordance with environmental regulations and community engagement protocols.
Management highlighted that the ability to drill year-round at certain targets provides operational flexibility.
The ongoing program is expected to yield results throughout the second half of 2026.
Portfolio Diversification and Pipeline
While Woodjam is a primary focus, Vizsla Copper continues to advance the Poplar project.
Poplar is another significant porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold-silver project located in the Omineca Mining Division.
The 11,200-meter program at Poplar focused on the Thira alteration corridor and the main Poplar deposit.
Initial results from Poplar suggest the system may be larger than previously understood.
The dual-track exploration strategy allows the company to balance risk and opportunity across two major districts.
Copper demand driven by the energy transition remains a key narrative for the company.
Analysts suggest that brownfield exploration at projects like Woodjam offers a lower-risk path to discovery than greenfield ventures.
The presence of multi-phase porphyry intrusive rocks indicates a long-lived mineralizing system at Woodjam.
Detailed mapping and sampling continue alongside the core drilling to refine future targets.
Technical Outlook and Geological Significance
The Three Firs target is particularly interesting to geologists due to its unique breccia-hosted mineralization style.
Breccia pipes often host higher-grade “chimneys” of mineralization compared to typical porphyry shells.
The Great Plains target was identified through induced polarization surveys which show a large chargeability high.
Such anomalies often correspond to disseminated sulfide minerals like chalcopyrite and pyrite.
The drilling will utilize NQ-sized core to ensure high-quality samples for assay and metallurgical testing.
Core logging is underway at the Woodjam site to identify alteration patterns and mineral zoning.
These technical observations will guide the placement of subsequent holes in the 16-hole sequence.
Further updates on the Woodjam drilling progress and Poplar assay results are expected in the coming weeks.
The company remains well-funded to execute its current exploration plans through the end of the year.
